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The Future of Journalism Online

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the everyone's-got-their-own-newspaper dept.

twitter writes "The slide in newspaper subscriptions continues for obvious reasons: convenience, variety, depth, cost and user control are all in favor of pull media. The BBC is wondering what this will ultimately mean for journalism. One interesting issue is brought up: 'papers like France's Libération [have] traditionally shunned advertising it deemed politically compromising and relied on its cover price for its income.' Even they see that internet distribution is the answer, but the BBC worries about the details." From the article: "The International Herald Tribune now sees itself as a media organisation rather than just a paper; their website features video stories and has taken the step of charging for premium content. 'Good journalism costs money and so we are trying to see what we can do to make sure we can continue to grow and support the business,' said Meredith Artley, director of digital development at the International Herald Tribune. "

2 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. glad RIAA isn't considering journalism by yagu · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    I'm just happy the RIAA doesn't have their (filthy?) hands in the journalism pie (as far as we know). Can you imagine what some the ramifications would be?:

    • encrypted downloadable content on a per-story basis, playable only on your computer and your portable reader.
    • pressure on universities to prohibit document sharing.
    • lawsuits of people found to have been reading on-line newspapers illegally (looking over another's shoulder, etc.)
    • smaller cuts of profits for the actual authors of articles
    • "piracy tax" added to any blank paper, ink, pens, etc., sold to offset potential copying and printing of unauthorized content.
    • newspapers and magazines sold in un-openable shrink wrap.

    As for what will happen to journalism, I think there'll be some equilibrium established. Anecdotally, at the prompting of browsing an on-line magazine (actually, two) I found myself re-subscribing to the printed magazines for the first time in over ten years. While there's nothing like the currency of on-line and RSS based news, there's still nothing like the portability and feel of paper in your hands.

    Neither computers, nor the internet have managed to replace the intimacy of ink and paper.

    I do think a nice (and maybe unexpected) byproduct of the internet is many writers get a chance for exposure than ever before... and hence grass roots popularity gains more power over hand-selected and pre-anointed journalists giving us: more choice; better reading; and ultimately better reporting.

  2. Ep.L... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    practical 4urposes woul3 mar BSD's was in the tea I